After India’s dominating chase of 323 runs in the first ODI of five-match ODI series at Guwahati on Sunday night (October 21), Windies captain Jason Holder said that the par-score can’t be predicted against the team like India.
After Windies were sent to bat first, they put a challenging total of 322/8 (50 overs) on the board, thanks to Shimron Hetmyer’s (106) brilliant century knock. But, India had an enough strong reply as the opener Rohit Sharma (152*) and the skipper Virat Kohli (140) both hit the big centuries to secure the game comfortably after reaching the target in 42.1 overs after losing only two wickets.
In the post-match press-conference, Windies skipper Holder said, “Against a team like India you never know what’s the par-score. In hindsight, 320 was probably a par score. At the half way stage I thought we had a par score but we were probably 30 runs short.”
Also read: Windies tour of India 2018/19: First ODI – Stats Review
Holder is happy on their batting performances as they set a challenging target of well above 300 runs against the hosts India.
Holder said, “It’s good to see we batted all the overs. I still think there are a lot positives. Inexperience did show. It’s just matter of us learn quickly and correct our mistakes.”
Mentioning Kohli and Sharma as two quality players, Holder believes they can be stopped only through the dismissals, which the Windies bowlers failed to do in the first ODI.
The Windies captain told about them, “Only way out is to get them out. They are two quality players. I think we erred in giving them too many boundaries. Up front we went to get wickets as that was the only way to put them under pressure. We were able to get Shikhar Dhawan early but at the end of the day both Kohli and Sharma played outstanding innings.”
Also read: Virat Kohli Expresses The Joy Of Batting With Rohit Sharma
Despite losing the game, Holder is focusing to the positive side of the game, which is the young Shimron Hetmyer’s brilliant century knock of 106 runs off 78 balls (6 fours and 6 sixes). The Windies captain is hopeful to move on a better position in the ODI cricket soon.
Holder said, “Probably it would have taken us a bit further into the innings but still credit to the young player to get his third ton. Obviously he had a lean patch in the Test series. So it was good to see him get a score on the board.
“I am not too disheartened by the game today. Yes the game was taken away from us Kohli and Sharma. It’s a matter for us to learn as fast as we can. Hopefully we can get into their middle order a little sooner.”
